ChicagoPride.com says that David Oliveras' debut film, Watercolors, is "Everything that 'Brokeback Mountain' was supposed to be."
And there's more:
“This is a film that I am glad I saw. I laughed; I cried; and my feelings for the film will always be warm and enthusiastic. I've always been a hopeless romantic and a sucker for a good love story and this film pushes all by buttons.”
...Plez’s Blog
“Compelling, provocative and heart-wrenching, Watercolors is everything that Beautiful Thing should have been and everything that Brokeback Mountain was supposed to be. It's one of the best, if not the best, movie featured at Reeling this year.”
...Jason P. Freeman, ChicagoPride.com
“Writer/director David Oliveras has created a powerful and erotic feature length debut with Watercolors and is a filmmaker to keep an eye on.”
...Gregg Shapiro, Chicago Free Press
I had the honor of traveling with Writer/Director David Oliveras and one of his Watercolors stars, Kyle Clare (along with Executive Producer Adam Kasoff and actress Jessica Amal Rice), to take in a screening of Watercolors at Frameline, the 2009 San Francisco International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, so I couldn't be more delighted to report that the film is reaching more and more audiences in the United States and abroad.
Starring Tye Olson, Kyle Clare, Greg Louganis and Karen Black, Watercolors is an original, moving, poetic and beautiful film, as demonstrated by the growing list of awards the film has received (and this is just a partial list)...
Best Gay Film, Fort Worth Q Cinema Festival
Narrative Feature, Filmout San Diego
Direction - David Oliveras, Filmout San Diego
Actor in a Feature Film - Audience Award - Tye Olson, Filmout San Diego
Actor in Supporting Role - Kyle Clare, Filmout San Diego
Cinematography - Andrew Park, Filmout San Diego
"When a gifted, young artist (Danny) arrives at the opening of his first New York exhibition his erotic paintings evoke memories of his first love (Carter), a troubled athlete whose depression and self-denial impacted all those around him. Through a series of flashbacks," explains the official synopsis, "we see Danny and Carter struggle with their mutual attraction. With the encouragement of three strong and very different women, Mrs. Martin, a free-spirited art teacher, his best friend, Andy, a young girl with a severe physical impairment, and his mother, Miriam, a recovering alcoholic, Danny learns to use his creativity to transcend his grief. Fifteen years later, Danny is faced with the possibility of losing Allan, his current lover, unless he keeps his promise to never paint the boy again."
CAST
Tye Olson
Kyle Clare
Ellie Araiza
Casey Kramer
Jeffrey Lee Woods
William C. Mitchell
Ian Rhodes
Edward Finlay
David Schroeder
Introducing Brandon Lybrand
Featuring Greg Louganis and Karen Black
EDITOR
Martinos Aristidou
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Ron Hansford
ORIGINAL SCORE BY
Marcelo Cesena
Dorian Rimsin
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Melissa Holt
PRODUCERS
Larry Allen
Penny Styles Mclean
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Adam W. Kassoff
Ben S. Louie
Lucia Owens
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY
David Oliveras
(Opening in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in January and February, 2010. For additional screening info, visit the official U.S. web site.)
Comment by Nicholas Snow on January 23, 2010 at 2:10am
Ken, I agree with you that Brokeback Mountain is an awesome movie....but chose to quote that reviewer because it gets attention! In retrospect, I can see how that looks like a slam against Brokeback...my apologies. I was actually at the Hollywood premiere and am planning an updated feature about the film. Have a great day! Nicholas
Comment by Ken Knox on January 19, 2010 at 12:51pm
I saw Watercolors at Outfest a few years ago, and while I agree it is an emotionally compelling (if somewhat melodramatic and overwrought) film, I must take issue with the idea that "it's everything Brokeback Mountain was supposed to be." The gay community needs to let go of the animosity toward Brokeback Mountain, which, in my opinion, is one of the all-time great love stories. Brokeback achieved exactly what it set out to achieve: Cast a compassionate and realistic look at what it was like to be gay in the 1950s. For all its unhappiness, the movie was extremely beautiful and exceptionally well-made, and it's high time that the gay community accept it for what it is: A movie that was aimed at the mainstream but is still worthy of being embraced by our community. It was respectful and even-handed toward us, and did an impeccable job of recounting what was in that time period a serious injustice. Time to get over it: Brokeback was awesome.
From an intense “Editing for Film Writers” Master Class conducted by renowned USC School of Cinema Professor Michael Economou, to an esteemed industry panel discussion featuring high-ranking agents, filmmakers and studio executives and moderated by one of the festival’s founders,…See More
From an intense “Editing for Film Writers” Master Class conducted by renowned USC School of Cinema Professor Michael Economou, to an esteemed industry panel discussion featuring high-ranking agents, filmmakers and studio executives and moderated by one of the festival’s founders,…See More
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen If you choose a movie by who directed it, like I frequently do, then add “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” to your list. Some of my favorite films are directed by Swede Lasse Hallstrom including “Chocolat”, “The Cider House Rules”, “My Life as a Dog”, and “What’s…See More
Set a friendship before you tease it! Katselas Theatre Company brings you multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco's BEAUTIFIED - a riotous new romp through four decades in a Massachusetts beauty parlor. It's Spring 1969, and hairdresser Mike's opening day gets off to an unexpected start when a beautiful but dour young Republican, Candy, stumbles in looking for anything but a change of hairdo. But change it he does, and the subsequent years of loyal trips back to Mike's chair prove that a…See More
Comment by Nicholas Snow on January 23, 2010 at 2:10am 
Comment by Ken Knox on January 19, 2010 at 12:51pm 
Nicholas Snow's blog post was featured
Rebecca Redshaw posted a blog post
Michele Hunter posted an event
You need to be a member of NotesFromHollywood.com to add comments!
Join NotesFromHollywood.com